The cases of drinking alcohol among children aged between 6 and 18 have reduced in the USA, but the addiction of consuming marijuana has augmented. This information has been revealed by newly conducted research. The study reveals that after the year 2000, the cases of marijuana consumption in children in the age bracket of 6 to 18 has gone up by 245%, while the cases of alcohol consumption have come down. As per this research published in ‘Clinical Toxicology’, between 2000 and 2020, a total of 3, 38, 727 cases of marijuana abuse among school going children in the form of medication or illegally have been registered.
In these cases, around 60% males were involved, and more than 80% were youth aged between 13 and 18. Adrian Hughes, Toxicologist, Oregon Health and Science University, said that in between 2000 and 2013, every year, as compared to alcohol abuse, the cases of marijuana consumption have increased, and after 2014, the cases of health-related threats augmented because of marijuana, in comparison to because of alcohol.
In the research, the analysis of such cases spanning across 20 years, related to school-going children and minors, was done, wherein they had to be taken to the hospital because of alcohol or marijuana consumption. As per the data, at one point in time, the highest number of cases of alcohol consumption were registered in the USA, which has now moved to the 3rd place.
